Secret Source of Inspiration Exhibition
21_21 DESIGN SIGHT holds "Secret Source of Inspiration: Designers' Hidden Sketches and Mockups" from November 22, 2019.
The exhibition consists of sketches, drawings and mockups by current members of JAPAN DESIGN COMMITTEE. Unlike final products, such behind-the-scenes items are rarely accessible to the public, and yet 'hidden parts' reveal an important essence about creativity.
Since its foundation in 1953, JAPAN DESIGN COMMITTEE has contributed to the development of the field by selecting outstanding products and holding exhibitions through its long and fruitful relationship with Matsuya Ginza department store in Tokyo. Prominent designers, architects and critics serve on the committee pro bono, with currently 26 members, ranging in age from 40s to 90s. Kinya Tagawa, director of Takram, is one of the youngest, pursuing new territories in design engineering.
This exhibition aims to be a node of connectivity for people across different generations and fields and to provide everyone with the opportunity to assess the rich strains of Japanese design, to further future creativity.
Message from the Director
Looking back at my twenties, I was extremely fortunate. From a coincidental meeting with Mr Shunji Yamanaka, I became his assistant. While working for him, I also had the chance of meeting other JAPAN DESIGN COMMITTEE members such as Mr Taku Satoh and Mr Kenya Hara.
The casual sketches and countlessly design materials they produced for projects were full of thought processes and hidden essence to their design quality. Having the opportunity to peek at such processes was one of the most valuable experiences I managed to have.
JAPAN DESIGN COMMITTEE is a group of creators, each of whom represents Japan. If we are the best creators, isn't our mission to inspire the next generation of creators?; this is where the inspiration for this exhibition started. We believe that by revealing the 'secrets' of ours - our methods, philosophy or quality, we can pass-on the DNA of JAPAN DESIGN to the future generations.
Film "Where Original Ideas Are Born"
Film Production: DRAWING AND MANUAL
Project Information
- Expertise: Spatial
- Year: 2020
Project Team
- Organised by: 21_21 DESIGN SIGHTTHE MIYAKE ISSEY FOUNDATION
- In Association with: Agency of Cultural Affairs; Ministry of EconomyTrade and Industry; MINATO CITY BOARD OF EDUCATION
- Special Sponsor: Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.
- Special Supporter: Matsuya Co., Ltd.
- Supported by: Canon Inc.Canon Marketing Japan Inc.
- Exhibition Director: Kinya Tagawa
- Planning Associate: JAPAN DESIGN COMMITTEE
- Graphic Design: Taku Satoh
- Infographics Design: Hiroki Fujimaki (TSDO)
- Space Design: Takashi Nakahara
- Text: Takahiro Tsuchida
- Film Production: DRAWING AND MANUAL
- Lighting Supervisor: Kaoru Mende
- JAPAN DESIGN COMMITTEE Members: Naoto Fukasawa (Product Designer) / Kenya Hara (Graphic Designer) / Keiko Hirano (Designer) / Takamichi Ito (Sculptor) / Hiroshi Kashiwagi (Design Critic) / Motomi Kawakami (Designer) / Toshiyuki Kita (Product Designer) / Atsushi Kitagawara (Architect) / Makoto Koizumi (Furniture Designer) / Kengo Kuma (Architect) / Masayuki Kurokawa (Architect / Product Designer) / Tetsuo Matsumoto (Architect / Interior Designer) / Shin Matsunaga (Graphic Designer) / Kaoru Mende (Lighting Designer) / Ryuji Mitani (Woodworker) / Kazufumi Nagai (Art Director) / Kazumasa Nagai (Graphic Designer) / Hiroshi Naito (Architect) / Ryu Niimi (Curator) / Taku Satoh (Graphic Designer) / Fumie Shibata (Product Designer) / Reiko Sudo (Textile Designer) / Yasuhiro Suzuki (Artist) / Kinya Tagawa (Design Engineer) / Toshiyuki Tanaka (Spatial Designer) / Shunji Yamanaka (Design Engineer)
- 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT Directors: Issey MiyakeTaku SatohNaoto Fukasawa
- Associate Director: Noriko Kawakami
- Manager of Development & Programs: Takako Nakahora
- Program Officer: Masumi Ishii
- Exhibition Photography: Masaya Yoshimura
